Nipple-wrench.



No. 628,414. Patented July 4, 4899.

H. J. ULEARY.

NIPPLE WRENCH.

(Application flied my 6, I899.

No Model.)

UNITED STATES ATENT @FFICE.

HARRY J. OLEARY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.-

NIPPLE-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,414, dated July 4, 1899.

1 Application filed May 6, 1899. Serial No. 715,791. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. OLEARY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marionand State of Indiana, have invented new and useful .Improvements in Nipple-Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wrenches, the same being particularly adapted for use as a nipplewrench for bicycle-spokes, whereby a Wheel may be readily and conveniently trued up.

The object of the invention is to provide a Wrench of the character named which is simple and cheap in construction, elfective in operation, and one which may be easily adjusted and held in adjusted position to accommodate it to any size of nipple within certain limits.

Specifically stated, the invention consists of a wrench made up of two annular disks or rings, one of which is provided with internal screw-threads, and the other has an annular flange thereon provided with external screwthreads adapted to engage the screw-threads on the first part, the said flange having an elongated slot therein extending from .dia-

metrically opposite points, and the ends of said slot having lateral rectangular offsets therein.

The invention also consists in certain de tails of construction and combinations of parts,which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specication, Figure 1 is an elevation of my wrench shown applied to 'a spoke-nipple. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same with the parts slightly separated, and Fig. 3 is a section extendingcentrally across the slot in the body.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

My improved wrench is made up of two annular disks 1 and 2, which for convenience of description will be termed the body in the one case and the adjusting-ring in the other. Both the body 1 and the adjustingring 2 are formed with milled, knurled, or otherwise roughened exteriorsurfac'es, by means of which one may be turned with respect to the other. The adjusting -ring 2 is formed with internal screw-threads 3 to receive the corresponding external screwthreads 4: on the annular flange 5, integral with or secured to the body 1, but of smaller external diameter than said body. The flange 5 is formed with a narrow slot 6, which extends around one side thereof from diametrically opposite points, and the'ends of said slot are formed with lateral rectangular offsets 7 7, as clearly shown. The said slot 6 intersects a portion of the body 1, forming shoulders 8 8, constituting a part of one wall of each of the offsets 7 and forming a semicircular web or projection 9, against which the adj Listing-ring 2 bears when it is screwed up upon the body 1. It will be observed that the slot 6 is exposed or uncovered at all times, whereas thelateral offsets 7 at the ends of said slots are adapted to be covered to a greater or less degree by the adjusting-ring 2.

Secured to the inner wall of the body 1, opposite the slot 6, isaspring 10, preferably constructed of a strip of wire, whose terminals extend into openings in said body. The said wire is bent to form the diverging side arms 11 11, the centralarched portion 12, and the shoulders 13 between the arms 11 and the arched portion 12. The said shoulders extend at an angle to the walls of the slot 6 and the oifsets 7 at the ends thereof and lie directly opposite the point of juncture between said slot and said olfsets, so thata rod or wire extending through the offsets 7 would be held therein and be prevented from accidental displacementtherefrom. The arched portion 12 lies in a plane which extends at an angle to the walls of the slot 6 and leads from one of said walls to the other, this being for a purpose which will presently appear.

In using my device as a nipple-wrench for tightening the spokes of cycle-wheels, the adjusting-ring 2 is unscrewed upon the flange 5, so as to expose all or a portion of the offsets 7 at the ends of the slot 6. The wrench is then applied bypassing it around the spoke of the wheel at a point intermediate the ends of said spoke until said spoke occupies a position in both of the offsets 7. In reaching this position the spoke rides upon theinclined arched portion 12 of the spring 10 until the shoulders 13 are passed, the said spring yielding to permit the passage of the spoke past said shoulders. When seated in the offsets 7 of the slot 6, the spoke is prevented from accidental of the offsets 7.

displacement therefrom or, rather,the wrench is prevented from accidental displacement from the spoke by the shoulders Ben the spring and said wrench is held centered.

The same is now moved down to the outer end of the spoke until the nipple fits in one The adj Listing-ring 2 is now screwed up upon the body 1 until said nipple is clamped between said ring and said body. By now turning the wrench with the fingers in one direction or the other the spoke may be loosened or tightened, as desired. To remove the wrench from the nipple and from the spoke around which it is placed, it is ating mechanism adapted to cover the merely necessary to slip the same from its seat.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have provided an extremely simple and effective wre'nch for the purpose set forth and one which may also be used as a tap wrench. When once adjusted and clamped upon a nipple or other part to be turned, it cannot be displaced or disconnected without intent. Furthermore, when used as a nipple-wrench, for which it was especially designed,it may be applied so that either end of the slot 6 is outermost, and when applied may be turned indefinitelyin either direction without interference with adjacent spokes of the Wheel.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A wrench, comprising a body having a slot with lateral offsets therein, and cooperends of said offsets.

2. A wrench comprising a body, in ring adapted to screw upon said body and to inclose the ends of said offsets.

3. A wrench, comprising a body, in ring form, having an annular flange provided with external screw-threads thereon and having a slot provided with lateral olfsets at diametrically opposite points, and an adjusting-ring provided with internal screw-threads adapted to receive the screw-threads on said flange and to inclose the ends of said offsets.

4. A wrench, comprising a body, in ring form, having a peripheral slot therein and lateral offsets in said slot, an adjusting-ring adapted to screw upon said body and to inclose the ends of said offsets, and a spring secured to said body having an engaging portion thereon lying opposite the open ends of said ofisets, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A wrench, comprising a body, in ring form, having a peripheral slot therein and lateral offsets in said slot, an adj usting-ring adapted to screw upon said body and to inclose the ends of said offsets, and a spring of wire having its ends secured to the inner wall of said body opposite said slot, and bent to form side arms, an arched portion, and shoulders between said arms and said arched portion, the said arched portion lying in a plane at an angle to the sides ofv said slot and intersecting the same, and said shoulders lying opposite the points of connection between said slot and the ofisets therein, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set- E. L. FRYBARGER, M GILLILAND. 

